Yesterday (Friday, March 15, 2024) will always be a dark day for the Biremire family and the entire Basyaba clan of Sheema district. They have not only lost a father and grandfather but also, a great friend, counsellor and strong pillar. 

The late Eryeza Biremire is indescribable. Aside from his generosity, integrity, kindness and humility, the 88-year-old was tolerant, caring, understanding and accommodating. 

He was a wonderful husband, adorable grandfather and dedicated servant of God according to his granddaughter Viola Kirabo, a real estate lawyer. 

The late Biremire with his children and grandchildren

“My grandfather would call and pray with me on the phone every week and always expressed pure intentions in all his dealings,” she says adding; “I will forever cherish you, Grandpa.”

Kirabo is quick to add that, throughout Biremire’s life, majority of the people who knew him admired his attributes. His God-given wisdom and selflessness were also enviable. 

He went out of his way to serve his community, the church and country despite being a primary two dropout. He did not allow his poor educational background to stand in his way. 

He worked hard to take his children to good schools. One, Dr Arthur Nuwagaba holds a doctorate (Ph.D.) and attests that his father loved education so much that he did everything possible to see them through school.

Kirabo Viola (second from left) with other grandchildren

Notable among Biremire’s enormous works is serving as an agent of Vision Group, selling New Vision and Orumuli newspapers in Kabwohe, Sheema district for over 30 years.

He also worked with Posta Uganda as a sub-postmaster at Kabwohe post office for more than 20 years during the 1980s. It should be remembered that during that time, more so, between 1980-1984, the country had no mobile phones and the landlines were limited to a few offices and homes. 

In Bushenyi, whenever the then president, Milton Obote wanted to speak to his people such as Minister Chris Rwakasisi, he would call on the only landline available which Biremire was operating. 

That role of linking people with the president was prestigious according to Hon. Dr Elioda Tumwesigye former MP for Sheema Municipality and former Minister of Health and for science and technology. 

To him, Sheema has lost a great pillar.

When it comes to church ministry, Biremire was a distributor for Uganda Bible Society for about 10 years, something that won him the moniker ‘Kabibuli’ to mean; the one who vends Bibles. 

The nickname became popular in Sheema and beyond. In fact, Biremire was the first distributor of bibles in the whole of western Uganda.

More to that, Wilson Bamutula, a lay leader at Ishekye church of Uganda in Sheema describes the late as a man of integrity reason he was able to serve as treasurer for Ishekye church for over 20 years. 

He left a clean record for which, Bamutula asserts that Biremire’s legacy will live forever.

On the other hand, his contribution to the education and health sectors cannot be ignored. Aggrey Twijukye, the proprietor of Adit bookshop and Mall and Oxford Hotel in Mbarara city says, Muzeeyi operated Kabwohe bookshop which supplied textbooks and printed exams. 

He was also part of the team that constructed Uganda House and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital under the supervision of an Indian who was christened Omusingasinga Aliwaliya.

Who is Biremire?

Eryeza Biremire was born in 1936 to the late Semu Kabwizi, a Second World War veteran. Biremire has been a strong pillar in the great Basyaba clan of Sheema and is hailed for being dedicated, patient, principled and exemplary. 

Hon. Dr. Elioda calls him a great father figure while Twijukye eulogies him in a more poignant way saying; “We can never get a cup of tea large enough or book long enough to suit Muzeyi Biremire.”

Asons Muganga his eldest son adds that; “Muzeeyi loved unity and taught us to be patient in all our dealings. We will forever miss you, father.”

Biremire is survived by eight biological children, 25 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He suffered a stroke three weeks before breathing his last, yesterday.

He will be laid to rest on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at Kamwezi Kabwohe in Sheema district.